Aphrodite [Olympian, Greek]
Goddess of: love, beauty, pleasure, passion, procreation
Zodiac sign: Taurus [ruled by Venus]
Primary Cult Centres: Cyprus, Kythera, Corinth, Cnidus, Eryx [likely more]
Lineage: Born from the sea-foam, she was birthed when Ouranus’ penis was thrown into the sea by his son Cronus. In fact, aphros means “foam.”
She was the patron goddess of all sex workers in ancient Greece. She was also the patron deity of the Lagid Queens & Queen Arsinoe II of Ptolemy Egypt (and many other prominent women).
She rewards those who honour her but her punishments can be swift and brutal.
She was by the accompanied winged godling Eros, the God of lust and sexual desire. Her main attendants are Charites, Zeus’ daughters, and goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, goodwill, and fertility. Agae, Euphroyne, and Thalia; meaning, Shining, Joy, and Blooming. Her other attendants were the Themis, daughters of Zeus. The Themis are named Eunomia, Dike, Eriene; Good Order, Justice, and Peace. She is sometimes accompanied by Harmonia, her daughter, and Hebe, the daughter of Zeus and Hera.
Aphrodite makes Pandora the first woman. She pours grace over her head and equips her with painful desire and weakening anguish. They adored her with gold jewelry and made her very beautiful & sexually attractive.
The God of fertility, Priapus, is said to be her son by Dionysus; Hera was jealous and poisoned her, so he was born hideous, and she left the infant in the wilderness.
She is married to Hephaestus but had an affair with Ares.
She plays a prominent role in the Iliad. She granted Paris the most beautiful woman for declaring her the most beautiful goddess (out of Hera and Athena). This woman was Helen of Sparta and thus the Trojan war began. She inspired Helen to sleep with Paris & saved Paris from the battlefield when fighting Helen’s husband, Menelaus.
Aphrodite can help you accept and love all aspects as yourself. She can help you love the skin your in and learn to see yourself as beautiful and desirable. She can help you treat yourself with love, tenderness, and compassion. If you have difficulties with self love, passion, and intimacy, Aphrodite would be a good goddess to work with to overcome these. Aphrodite can also teach you to honour and respect yourself. Also, to love yourself enough to create boundaries, advocate for yourself, and not let others get away with treating you poorly.
Aphrodisia - was celebrated on the fourth day of the month of Hekatombaion [July/August] in honor of Aphrodite’s role in the unification of Attica, also important in Cyrus but celebrated in many places
Kinyrades - Held in Hekatombaiōn [July/August] and was an initiation like festivals for those becoming priests of Aphrodite. Divided into three celebrations. First four days there was an exchange of coins for salt by priest and worshipper. This practice is said to celebrate the birth of the goddess from the sea. The celebration also included athletic competitions, sea-bathing, and bloodless sacrifices. These activities followed an all-nighter in her temple, followed by lamenting Adonis & celebrating his resurrection.
the sea, mirrors, mountains, conch shells
Animals: doves, sea birds, sparrows, swans, bees, goats
Plants/Herbs/Food: roses, myrtles, apples, pomegranate, artichokes, laurel, ash and poplar trees
Scent: stephanotis, musk, verbena, vanilla, incense, vervain, roses, sandalwood
Colors: pink, silver, violet, aqua, seafoam, light blue
Apples, pomegranates, lettuce, myrtle, myrrh, anemone, roses, poppies, pearls, shellfish, honey, incense, garlands of flowers, intimate acts, poetry, art, wine, honey cakes, fire, salt, jewelry, bread, olive oil
pearls, gold, purple amethyst, aquamarine, rose quartz, rubellite, jade, sapphire, silver, copper, moonstone
Self love: self care, bath rituals, reading romantic literature, creating romantic art, poetry carrying or wearing rose quartz, make up, music, tea, sweets & candy, wearing silver jewelry
Loving others: random acts of kindness, supporting all love, telling someone you love them, planning something romantic, intimacy, giving silvery jewelry, giving flowers
Loving the world: feeding fish & birds, bee & butterfly feeder, planting any plants and flowers associated with her
Magic: love spells & sigils, self love spells, sigils, rituals etc, fertility magic, beauty spells, glamouring and/or blessing your make up, shoes, clothing
Aphrodite Areia - In Sparta, the Warlike
Anadyo’Mene - Goddess rising out of the sea
Antheia - the blooming, or friend of flowers
Despoena - ruling mistress [title shared w/ other goddesses]
Game’lii - presiding over marriage [shared w/ other goddesses]
Genetyllis - protectress of births
*There are many more epithets for Aphrodite, especially surnames given by her cult centres
